ZIP code
28478
in Watha, North CarolinaPopulation 5,017
44.99/ 100
Ranked #22,408 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #582 of 793 North Carolina ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #25 of 28 Wilmington, NC ZIPs (bottom 10.8%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Tooth loss
25.2%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
35.9 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.7 pCi/L
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2.6 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 11.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
122.7 days/year
in the top 12.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
90.8%
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›The read
Watha, North Carolina (ZIP 28478), overall, ranks in the bottom 30% nationally (22,408th) and the bottom 27% of North Carolina (582nd).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled radon registers in the bottom 3.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic settles in the bottom 16% nationally, and homeownership is in the top 16% nationally. Set against that, modeled tooth loss sits in the top 7.0% nationally, and fatal road crashes lands in the top 9.1% nationally. Walkability lies in the bottom 11.5% nationally, and modeled humid heat stands in the top 12.6% nationally. Home broadband subscription rests in the bottom 15.0% nationally, and modeled stroke registers in the top 14.5% nationally.
Defined simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. ZIP 28425, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Wilmington, NC metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 97.2 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 16.8 — 80 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #475 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
28421
North Carolinashares a border
Score 43.13
Closest healthier
28425
North Carolinashares a border
Score 48.96
Similar health profile
27980
North Carolina97% similar profile
Score 43.34
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 33.0% | 29.5–36.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.0% | 39.8–48.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.3 |
| Depression among adults | 24.6% | 21.1–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.9% | 13.9–18.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 34.0–42.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.6% | 33.2–48.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 25.2% | 21.2–29.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.1% | 10.2–14.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.7–82.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.0% | 77.8–84.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 85.8–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.6% | 58.6–68.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 54.0% | 50.3–58.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.4% | 67.1–81.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.6% | 11.2–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.9% | 15.4–20.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 24.4–33.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.8% | 29.6–42.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.4% | 21.4–27.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.1–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.2% | 33.8–42.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.7% | 17.3–22.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.6% | 21.2–28.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.7% | 17.1–22.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.7% | 15.2–20.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–16.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.3% | 28.7–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.0% (4.4–25.0%) n=793 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 14.5% (5.7–24.9%) n=794 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 10.4% (3.1–19.8%) n=798 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.8% (10.7–53.4%) n=798 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.2% (0.0–9.1%) n=796 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.9% (0.0–10.2%) n=793 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.6% (76.2–96.3%) n=793 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 24.7% (14.1–36.5%) n=793 |
| Homeownership rate | 90.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 75.0% (52.7–89.7%) n=793 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–4.5%) n=793 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 4.2% (0.0–12.9%) n=799 |
| Single-parent households | 47.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 51.8% (39.2–70.1%) n=790 |
| Population 65+ | 15.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.7% (11.1–31.9%) n=799 |
| Median age | 44.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.5 yr (33.3–55.7) n=797 |
| Median household income | $73,388 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,030 ($44,419–$97,111) n=749 |
| Median home value | $178,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $223,850 ($113,970–$452,990) n=758 |
| Median gross rent | $718 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $957 ($715–$1,575) n=687 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NC median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.0 yr ± 1.08 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.3 yr (74.6–80.8) n=747 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 1.08 years of 77.0, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured